This blog used to be called "Maura vs.Toby"."Toby" was a four-pound Unclassified Sarcoma that surgeons removed from Maura's abdomen in April, 2008. She died on May 19, 2009. Toby's evil spawn may have killed her body, but Maura lives on. The tumors, on the other hand, were incinerated. They are gone. And she is in pain no more.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Change of Plans

The doctor came in this morning with a slightly different plan. He is first recommending Maura for a Phase 2 trial of a drug that will knock down her platelets, but at least today's platelet level is just barely high enough to qualify for the trial, so he's going for it. Maura is optimistic. The research nurse came in to get consent forms and explain the protocol. The nurse practitioner came in to discuss lifestyle changes, eating, nausea and pain control. She gave Maura a boot camp pep talk. Maura will be discharged tomorrow, and, if all goes well, she might get her first treatment next week. Thanks for the prayers. Keep 'em coming.

I too got this blog through Katie... I am praying hard for Maura... she is amazing... I have now gone back and read all posts since the beginning, and her positive attitude does not surprise me in the least.

I love you Maura. I love the girl that made me laugh until I cried in choir... I love the girl that let Merriah blow her nose in her shirt b/c she couldn't take the runny nose... I love your compassionate nature and great spirit. I will pray for you every day.

Oh my - when I read this last entry my brain started singing the "roller coaster" song that played in the disco in 1976 or so.Hopefully you'll hear it and get a smile as you remember disco balls, saturday night fever, lighted dance floors, tight pants, big hair, and other 1970's foolishness.

Thus - I hereby nominate the roller coaster song as the official sound track for your next treatment. Somebody find a disco ball.

I couldn't find the lyrics, all I remember is dancing to the phrase "roller coaster" Hopefully the rest of the song isn't dirty or sad or anything embarassing.

I'm figuring that anyone who reads this blog is a kindred soul who "breaks out into song for no apparent reason."

Lots of love and prayers from the Coffey's to Maura, the family, Adam, and the rest of the SHSU gang.

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About Me

This is a picture of my daughter, Maura. She died from metastatic high-grade unclassified sarcoma* on May 19, 2009 at the age of 22. For one year I wrote about her journey with cancer. I don't know if I'll keep writing now or if I'm done. We'll just take it a day at a time.
*Sarcoma is a little-known, under-researched, under-funded cancer. To contribute directly to research please consider giving a gift directly to:
MD Anderson Cancer Center- Donations, PO Box 4486, Houston TX 77210-4486 ****(Please write "In memory of Maura de Souza " in the memo portion of the check to make sure it goes directly for sarcoma research.)